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Core Behavioral Principles in Swine
Core Behavioral Principles in Swine
• Primary Drivers: Most problems are related to confinement or stress.
• Primary Drivers: Most problems are related to confinement or stress.
• General Treatment: Focused on managing social groups, establishing normal environmental conditions, and maintaining welfare.
• General Treatment: Focused on managing social groups, establishing normal environmental conditions, and maintaining welfare.
Aggression Problems
Aggression Problems
• Establishment of Rank:
• Establishment of Rank:
◦ Piglets: Show aggression within the first week of life to form a teat order.
◦ Piglets: Show aggression within the first week of life to form a teat order.
◦ Adults: Aggression occurs when new pigs are introduced; it involves nosing, vocalizing, and biting until a hierarchy is established (takes several days).
◦ Adults: Aggression occurs when new pigs are introduced; it involves nosing, vocalizing, and biting until a hierarchy is established (takes several days).
◦ Maintenance: Once established, fights are rare; ranks are held through threats and submissive gestures (like twisting the head away).
◦ Maintenance: Once established, fights are rare; ranks are held through threats and submissive gestures (like twisting the head away).
• Triggers and Factors:
• Triggers and Factors:
◦ Resources: Crowding and limited food increase aggression.
◦ Resources: Crowding and limited food increase aggression.
◦ Genetics: Breeds with lower body fat percentages may be more aggressive during handling.
◦ Genetics: Breeds with lower body fat percentages may be more aggressive during handling.
◦ Breeding: Boars fight during breeding; signs include strutting, champing jaws (producing pheromone-rich saliva), and attacking.
◦ Breeding: Boars fight during breeding; signs include strutting, champing jaws (producing pheromone-rich saliva), and attacking.
• Management:
• Management:
◦ Environment: Slow introduction of new pigs, hiding shelters for subordinates, sufficient toys/resources, and dim lighting.
◦ Environment: Slow introduction of new pigs, hiding shelters for subordinates, sufficient toys/resources, and dim lighting.
◦ Chemical Support: Use of boar pheromones or tranquilizers (azaperone, amperozide); lithium has also been used.
◦ Chemical Support: Use of boar pheromones or tranquilizers (azaperone, amperozide); lithium has also been used.
Repetitive and Harmful Behaviors
Repetitive and Harmful Behaviors
• Tail Biting:
• Tail Biting:
◦ Causes: Boredom, overcrowding, slatted floors (lack of bedding), and nutritional deficiencies (low salt/iron).
◦ Causes: Boredom, overcrowding, slatted floors (lack of bedding), and nutritional deficiencies (low salt/iron).
◦ The Issue: Blood from an injured tail arouses other pigs; while rarely leading to pure cannibalism, it causes secondary infections and death.
◦ The Issue: Blood from an injured tail arouses other pigs; while rarely leading to pure cannibalism, it causes secondary infections and death.
◦ Management: Provide stimulation (straw, toys, corn on the cob) and remove biting individuals. Tail docking is common but does not reduce the motivation to bite.
◦ Management: Provide stimulation (straw, toys, corn on the cob) and remove biting individuals. Tail docking is common but does not reduce the motivation to bite.
• Cannibalism:
• Cannibalism:
◦ Context: Mostly seen in primiparous gilts (first-time mothers) immediately after birth when stressed.
◦ Context: Mostly seen in primiparous gilts (first-time mothers) immediately after birth when stressed.
◦ Behavior: Sows bark warnings and then bite piglets to death.
◦ Behavior: Sows bark warnings and then bite piglets to death.
◦ Treatment: Use of farrowing crates or azaperone.
◦ Treatment: Use of farrowing crates or azaperone.
• Stereotypic Behaviors:
• Stereotypic Behaviors:
◦ Common Forms: Bar biting, polydipsia (excessive drinking), and rubbing nasal secretions.
◦ Common Forms: Bar biting, polydipsia (excessive drinking), and rubbing nasal secretions.
◦ Management: Environmental enrichment (clean tires, bedding, toys) and feeding smaller quantities more frequently.
◦ Management: Environmental enrichment (clean tires, bedding, toys) and feeding smaller quantities more frequently.
Maternal and Nursing Issues
Maternal and Nursing Issues
• Crushing Piglets:
• Crushing Piglets:
◦ Causes: Weak/sick piglets that cannot move, or heavy sows that lack maternal devotion due to selective breeding.
◦ Causes: Weak/sick piglets that cannot move, or heavy sows that lack maternal devotion due to selective breeding.
◦ Prevention: Farrowing crates with side bars/slopes and heat lamps to motivate piglets to rest away from the sow.
◦ Prevention: Farrowing crates with side bars/slopes and heat lamps to motivate piglets to rest away from the sow.
• Refusal to Nurse:
• Refusal to Nurse:
◦ Primary Cause: Mastitis is the most common reason; a physical exam is necessary to rule it out.
◦ Primary Cause: Mastitis is the most common reason; a physical exam is necessary to rule it out.
◦ Signs: The sow lies sternally to prevent access to teats.
◦ Signs: The sow lies sternally to prevent access to teats.
◦ Management: Transition piglets to milk replacers or solid food (sweetened to encourage eating).
◦ Management: Transition piglets to milk replacers or solid food (sweetened to encourage eating).
Breeding and Reproductive Problems
Breeding and Reproductive Problems
• Poor Libido in Boars:
• Poor Libido in Boars:
◦ Causes: Nutritional deficiencies, stress, fear, or exposure to aggressive females.
◦ Causes: Nutritional deficiencies, stress, fear, or exposure to aggressive females.
◦ Management: Socialization, visual contact with sows in nearby pens, and proper nutrition.
◦ Management: Socialization, visual contact with sows in nearby pens, and proper nutrition.
• Failure to Reproduce:
• Failure to Reproduce:
◦ In Gilts: Chronic stress from confinement and overcrowding can delay puberty.
◦ In Gilts: Chronic stress from confinement and overcrowding can delay puberty.
◦ Note: Interestingly, acute stress (like transport or gentle handling) can actually accelerate estrous cycles.
◦ Note: Interestingly, acute stress (like transport or gentle handling) can actually accelerate estrous cycles.
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